MTV in the US has moved Britney Spears' new video to its late-night schedule, saying it is too racy for day viewing.

The move follows Janet Jackson's controversial MTV-produced performance at the US Super Bowl in which her right breast was exposed on live TV.

In the video for Toxic, Spears wears a see-through catsuit and cavorts with a man in an aeroplane toilet cubicle.

"We always take into account what the cultural environment is on an ongoing basis," said an MTV spokeswoman.

Publicists for Spears' label, Jive Records, were not immediately available for comment.

This comes from someone baring their chest in public, while for the first time our singer has his shirt on for an entire
video

Mike Einzigersai, Incubus guitarist

The channel said in all it had moved six videos to its late-night rotation between 2200 and 0600.

Others include videos by alternative rock bands Blink 182 and Maroon 5, and rap-rock outfit
Incubus, whose video for Megalomaniac depicts an
Adolf Hitler character with angel's wings flying over a crowd.

Incubus guitarist Mike Einzigersai said: "It's ironic that this MTV scrutiny comes from an
incident where someone bared their chest in public, while for
the first time, our singer has his shirt on for an entire
video."

Record labels for Spears and the other artists were informed of the move last week, the MTV spokeswoman said.

She denied the network was engaging in self-censorship or responding to pressure from its parent company, Viacom.

Jackson was exposed during a routine with Justin Timberlake

"Given the particular sensitivity in the culture right now, we're erring on the side of caution for the immediate future," she said.

Janet Jackson has apologised after her exposure caused a furore in the US, leading to complaints from 200,000 TV viewers.

The incident, during the biggest TV audience of the year, has prompted an investigation by the Federal Communications Commission. CBS, which broadcasts the Super Bowl and the Grammys, faces possible sanctions.

Spears, 22, whose fourth album In The Zone was released last November, has sold more than 54 million albums around the world since starting her recording career in 1999.

In January she took part in a wedding ceremony with childhood friend Jason Alexander in Las Vegas, but the marriage was annulled two days later.